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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Happy New Year Peter & Team :
I am interested in the micro-cap company Input Capital Corp INP.V I read with interest your answer to Owen dated October 06, 2013 and wonder if you have any additional information.

They lend money to canola farmers in exchange for 6 year contracts giving Input the right to buy a certain percentage of the crop for an average price of $79.05 per ton which the farmer then delivers to the grain elevator who in turn pays Input the prevailing price for canola, currently about $450 per tonne.

The canola price has ranged from about $250/tonne to over $700/tonne over the last 10 years. I cannot determine whether Input engages in futures trading or not to hedge their expected profits, nor whether this could be a good practice or not.

This looks like an excellent business based on a proven business model and has enormous potential growth. Supposedly crop insurance protects Input in case of a crop disaster, and there is perennial global demand for the canola. They currently have 10 signed contracts worth $18.1 million, about $767,000 cash in hand, and no debt.

The issue I see is the cost of capital to Input, and whether there will be future share dilution. If Input can borrow at a reasonable rate [5-6%] it should go well but if Input are borrowing at 10% or higher it may not be economic. Can you find out the relevant facts on this company for me and give me your valued opinion.
Many thanks... Paul
Read Answer Asked by Paul on January 02, 2014